Benjamin Gilman: “Whereas the Colombian National Police is led by the legendary and incorruptible General Jose Serrano, who has dedicated…”

“Whereas the Colombian National Police is led by the legendary and incorruptible General Jose Serrano, who has dedicated his life to fighting drugs, and whereas the elite anti-narcotics union of the Colombian National Police, the Danti, is one of the best and most effective anti-narcotics police forces in the region and the world. That was the preamble to that measure. The CNP have had 4,000 police officers killed over the last 10 years fighting drugs in Colombia, before they reach our streets and before they kill our children. They destroyed the Cali and Medellin cartels, and killed the violent notorious drug dealer Pablo Escobar in a shoot-out. So let us understand who we are giving funds to and who deserve it. There is no corruption in the CNP antidrug unit nor is there any history of human rights' abuses by the Danti antidrug unit. In fact, the Ambassador to Colombia, Myles Furchette, told our committee staff of the Congress not long ago that in the 10 years of providing U.S. assistance to General Serrano's antidrug unit, there have been no allegations of human rights' abuse. The amendment to delete antidrug aid to Colombia and especially the Colombian antidrug police is ill-founded and lacks merit. Accordingly, I request our colleagues to defeat the Waters amendment.”